365 Days of Gratitude day 59 (New Years Eve)

As New Years is a time of reflection for many, I find myself reflecting as well. New Years brings about thoughts of what was, what is and what can be.  I truly am grateful for so many people, places, circumstances and fortunes that have been brought my way.  One year goes incredibly fast but can also bring so much change filled with incredible opportunity and blessings. 2012 has been such an exponential 180 of 2011.  It is the old story of that which does not break us, makes us stronger.  I am confident in saying that although 2011 brought many difficult situations, I would not be the person I am today without them.  2012 brought new beginnings, new people, healthier eating, our little whirling dervish of a dog and most important a healthy and happy family to enjoy life with.
Change can be hard for us humans, however once embraced, it can be beautiful!
I look forward to what excitement that 2013 will bring our way. Happy New Year! :):):):)

365 Days of Gratitude day 58

I am grateful that we have such convenient access to organic vegetables and fruits that are sooooooooo delicious!  I am grateful that we have Trader Joes so close that make them affordable. I am grateful for my Karma Chow and "Forks over Knives" cookbooks that provide me with such wonderful recipes for my yummy fruits and veggies :):):):)

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I am grateful that the house painting is finished!  It is just in time as it started raining again today!

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I am grateful therefor I am :)

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I am grateful that my new Samsung Galaxy did not break this am when I dropped it;)

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I am grateful for my wonderful family!

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I am grateful that I get to spend this Christmas day with my family.....what a true blessing that is :):):)

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I am grateful that we were able to get our house painted.  What a big difference it makes and how badly it needed it ;) Terrific gift from my husband!

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I am grateful when people you don't even know cheer you on.  It is always such an unexpected surprise!

365 Days of Gratitude Day 50

I am grateful for all of the new people and experiences that have come into my life this year. I am grateful that still have the ability and capacity to learn new things, ideas and approaches to life. Most important, i am grateful to have formed new and meaningful friendships ;););)

365 Days of Gratitude day 49

I am grateful for the new juicing recipe my mom shared with me yesterday:  fennel, honeydew, green apple, kale, ginger root and celery.......I can't wait to try it this am :):):) Thanks mom!

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I am gratfeful when my mom checks out my blog and email me saying she is "grateful for her wonderful daughter and the fun we are having together with the plant based diet" ;););)

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I am grateful when things just work out :) Whether you believe I fate, the universe, God....it is awesome when things just come together!

365 Days of Gratitude day 46

I am grateful for fresh food, veggies, fruits, grains.........quite frankly, I am grateful for food in general as many are not a s fortunate :( This, in my opinion, is unacceptable! No one should go without food in this country as we have an abundance of it.  Perhaps if we all take a different look at how we eat, what we eat and what we could do differently to feed the nation, hunger in America would be obsolete. If we truly take a look at the "what" we eat, perhaps we could be a much stronger, healthier, happier and less pharmaceutical dependent America :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude day 45

I am grateful that I followed thru with cleaning my closet yesterday.  It is very mentally liberating to get things organized.  I did the pantry last week.  I am grateful that there are curches and places that help those in need so we can then donate the things/food items we don't use to someone who will.

365 Days of Gratitude day 44

I am grateful for rainy day schedule :) A day when it is rainy and cold, a Sunday perhaps, where one can feel ok to just chill. I like opening a window to feel the cool air, smell the rain and cuddle under a blanket.   I am grateful for these days, like today! :):):)

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I am grateful for my new green Cuisinart Hand Blender ! My other one went down for the count and boy did I miss my smoothies.  This one is super powerful and I love having my smoothies back;););)

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I am grateful for the weekend paper.  My husband and I always look at the Friday thru Sunday horoscope - it is a fun little thing we do together :):)

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I am grateful for being grateful ;););););)

365 Days of Gratitude day 40

I am grateful my mom taught me to make my bed and do my chores before I leave.......it is nice to get those things out  of the way and come home to a clean house! ;);)

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I am grateful for a warm bed and a hot shower ;)

365 Days of Gratitude day 38

I am grateful for following a plant based diet. I am grateful for a couple friends and the documentary "Forks Over Knives" for educating me.  I feel great, have reacquainted myself with cooking and have gone down two dress sizes. It has been so terrific and easy to follow.  I never feel deprived. My husband, mom and best friend are now adopting plant based as well, I am grateful for that:)

365 Days of Gratitude day 37

I am grateful every time we all arrive home safely.  This may be something we sometimes don't think about or take for granted. Unfortunately, some people are not always so lucky.  I count our blessings every night that we are tucked safely in our beds :)

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I am grateful for the conversations that I get to have with my mother.  Whether it be via email, phone or most fun, in person - I treasure these opportunities :)

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I am grateful whenever I can make someone smile or feel better;)

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I am grateful for feeling better :):):):):):):)!

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I am grateful for good health.  Today I am not feeling so well but I know it will go away.  Some people are not so lucky.  I work with people everyday in that are in chronic pain and their pain is day in and day out.  Whenever I have a headache or stomach ache, it reminds me that these people often feel like this all the time. I am grateful that often times I get to help these people and relieve some of their pain:)

365 Days of Gratitude day 32

I am grateful for courteous people!  The person who opens the door for you, the one on the freeway that lets you merge over, the one that lets you go first in line at the market because you have one or two items and they have many, etc..  I am grateful for those people that add a little smile to your day through their act of courteous behavior :)

365 Days of Gratitude day 31

I am grateful for trash collection.  Without it, the world would be a smelly place.

365 Days of Gratitude day 30!

30 days so far........it has gone so quickly. I am grateful that I started this project as I find it enjoyable to think about all the things I am grateful for.  If you have been reading you would find that a lot of the gratitudes are for the little things, which in reality are often not so little - like nature for instance. What I have found it that when I look around there are a ton of things everyday that we can find gratitude in.  I do believe it is the little things that set the foundation for the big things. Sometimes it might be the people or things we take for granted that are who or what we can be grateful for.  At any rate, it has truly been a blessing to look around, put fingers to type :) and declare my personal gratitudes -- that, I am grateful for :):):):)

365 Days of Gratitude day 29

I am grateful when I get to tinker in the garden, even if only for a few minutes.  The sound of the fountain, the beautifuls colors of all the different plants and flowers ignite the senses anbasket my spirit.  Whether it is a sunny day or a day with fog and light rain..........it is, as my father would say, "pure ambrosia" ( and he wasn't talking about the band) ;);)

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I am grateful for dewy mornings when the mist dances on your face and the air is moist and rejuvinating.  Everything looks different in the dense fog with the gentle sounds of water droplets being dispersed by the cars going by. I am grateful for mornings that I get to run in this glorious weather that soothes my soul from head to toe;)

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I am grateful when we have a little downtime. Time for self reflection and growth. Time when one can be quiet with their thoughts and just be. Time when one can just pick up a book of their choosing, read in quiet calm and learn from others.  I am grateful when even if for just 10 minutes we have that state of pure bliss and inner calm.

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I am grateful that my family and friends are safe, sound and healthy!

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I am grateful for clouds........they are beautiful, white, fluffy and spectacular.  It is wonderful to be able to lay on the grass or gaze from the car at these magnificent gifts from nature.

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I am grateful for the glorious scent of the tuberose plant that I bought yesterday.  The sweet smell is permeating the house and is magnificent!

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I am grateful for new days. A new day gives one the opportunity to push the reset button, hopefully on a good nights sleep so you can engage and traverse the day from a whole new vantage point.  Sometimes we can run ourselves ragged trying to cram too much into the day -- sometimes, we need to just sit back, unwind, make minimal desicions and replenish.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to do that :)

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I am grateful for being able to spend extra time this holiday with my mom and aunt. Being able to have a roof over our head and yummy food to cook for them :)

365 Days of Gratitude day 21

I am grateful for my dog.  She came into my life and has been such a wonderful addition.  I didn't know how much of a void from the loss of our other most faithful hound was still there until she rushed in and filled it with all of her love, smiles, funny antics and adorable personality. I think she gives me more than I can possibly give her -- but I will try :)

365 Days of Gratitude day 20 - The Big One! Thanksgiving

Well, this is the big one.  The day that you hear from people all over, giving thanks and reflecting on what is important.  This is one of mine and many peoples favorite holiday. This holiday is about family, friends, giving thanks and no pressure.  I am grateful to be alive, healthy, have able body, mind and spirit.  I am grateful that I share this day with my husband, mom, sister, brother-in-law, nephews, aunt, cousins, and friends and of course our dog.  I am grateful for technology to be able to reach out to those that are not here. I would not be where I am today without my family, friends, co-workers, clients and patients -- they all give me the support, opportunity, faith, guidance and perspective that I need to lead a fulfilling life.  I am grateful to be given each and every day to try my best to give back to those that give so much to me.  I thank you God for this day filled with all these blessing........I ask you to please guide me in the path that you see most fit to give back and always strive to be a better human being.

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I am grateful for my husband who is kind, smart, generous, funny, thoughtful and a looker ;). He makes my life fuller and more enriched!

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I am grateful for flowers.  They are beautiful, smell wonderful and can brighten people's days! There is a rose bush up the street that has the most intoxicating smell......one of my favorite things to do coming back from a run is to literally stop and smell the roses..........magnificent ;)

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I am grateful for vegetables.........they taste great and are great for you! They are colorful, plentiful, come from the ground and you can grow them yourself ;)

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I am grateful for apologies.  Whether it is giving them or receiving them.......I do believe that the simple words, "I am sorry", are some of the most restorative and healing in the English language.  They are often so difficult for some of us to say.  I am grateful for the ability to say I am sorry and always very grateful when someone says it to me.

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I am grateful for rainy days and being able to cuddle on the couch with my husband :)

365 Days of Gratitude day 14

Wow, 14 days already.......that went fast. They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, I am 3/4 of the way there to 365 being a habit.
I am grateful for the ability to listen to the little birds chirp so happily and feverishly outside my window ;););)

I will miss you :(:)

Today I lost my best friend, my dog - Woody.

I cannot begin to describe the sense of loss, despair and complete hole in my heart that has been left behind. For anyone that is reading this that has lost a pet that they loved and cherished, you know exactly how I feel. My dog Woody found me 16 years ago when I was not even thinking about having a completely unconditionally loving, caring, loyal and full of life little canine in my care.

16 years ago I went out for hair products, minding my own business I stumbled across this adorable, furry friend that wanted nothing to do with me - that's right, nothing to do with me. Well, me of course being a glutton for punishment thought " I will show you" ignore me, no way -- you will come home with me and I will take care of you:) It was love at first sight for me. I bailed on the hair product and found myself signing some adoption papers and 30 minutes later carrying this adorable little pup and placing him in the front seat of my red convertible Driving home with the wind blowing through our hair, he still wanted nothing to do with me - turns out, he was not well and had a gimpy stomach to say the least.

He was clearly uncomfortable wimping and wining so I put him down on the living room floor with a little blanket and I carefully laid down next to him for the next four nights trying to comfort this sweet little being. Well he perked up like no one's business and within one week and without even asking he became my most faithful guardian and friend.

We of course had our trials and tribulations but like a fine wine, this little hound just kept getting better with age.

I am still numb at the fact that my most faithful friend is no longer here to greet me at the door, wake me up with "snout-hoggling and kisses", patiently and expectantly waiting for his morning breakfast and wagging his tail feverishly while eating it. I will miss all the little nuances to my furry friend and loyal companion. He was full of life. love and happiness - you could actually see him smile.

Here I am 16 years later with my loving friend, losing a year long battle with melanoma of the lip. Three surgeries, a course of radiation and six melanoma vaccines right back where we started -- sleeping on the floor with him for four nights trying to comfort my best friend, desperately hoping he will perk back up. I searched, hoped, prayed and googled trying to find some other solution than what ultimately took place -- to my complete and utter dismay, there was no solution. I never thought that I could have my dog put to sleep as I selfishly wanted him to be with me forever. To see him suffer was more than I could bear - he didn't deserve cancer or to be in the pain that it was causing him - the pain killers didn't make a dent and he was most bravely suffering. Wednesday I took him to my regular vet and that night he got even worse - on Thursday, July 8th I reluctantly but knowingly took him to the cancer specialists who informed me that the cancer had spread to his brain and there is nothing more we can do and it was time to let him go. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I knew that was where we were heading. I couldn't let him continue being in pain. They were extraordinarily kind, compassionate and patient. While I waited for my husband to arrive i cradled Woody in my arms and tried to calm him as much as I could. When my husband arrived we sat with him together - i held Woody in my lap and my husband held me -- the doctor came in and gently explained what would happen and asked if we were ready - If we were not my beloved dog was - he was shaking and whimpering uncontrollably. They gave him a dose of medication to put him to sleep and than a medication to stop his heart - it happened within minutes, there he was looking so peaceful laying in my arms. I burst out in tears immediately feeling my loss. My husband was so loving and supportive and he too devastated by our loss. They let us take as much time as we needed with him and we must have cradled him for an hour. Unable to really fathom what life was going to be like without him we hesitantly had to leave his body behind but brought his soul back home with us.

If you had asked me a week ago if I would have ever considered euthanasia, I would have said there is no way I could do that -- for me, when I saw him suffering I had to put his needs ahead of mine. I love him with all of my heart and I miss him ferociously. We are truly lucky to have had such an incredible friend with his funny side winding walk that loved us with all his heart. i know that we got many more months of quality time that we took wonderful advantage of and we were able to be there with him till the end and hold him in our arms to help him to his next destination.

I love you Woody - I miss you incredibly and I thank you for being such and extra-ordinary part of my life!

Sad But Grateful

It has been six days now since Woody's physical presence has gone - his spirit of course still lies within me. I am sad not to see him everyday, enjoy our daily activities and have his energy encompass our home.

I am grateful for many things. We had the gift of knowing that he did have cancer and that his time would be limited. We took tremendous advantage of that time. We went on a multitude of adventures to my moms (aka his country home), the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara (even got an upgraded Bungalow out of the deal) in fact it was on this trip that at 6am I got up in my robe, no make up to let him out to do his thing - as I am picking up his remnants I run into my old boss that I had not seen in 8 years -- go figure! On his last weekend, 4th of July we went on a picnic in Palos Verdes and a road trip to Dana Point (we got our last pictures of him this weekend). I layed with him on a blanket in the TV room all day and we watched movies together and I tried to comfort him (still of course hoping that he would get better). During these last months, many days we would simply lay around on the grass looking at the clouds while he would often just roll around in total bliss.

I am grateful for my family and friends that loved him and supported us through his life and passing. People that you never would expect that come to your assistance and show their love and support.

Monday took cat to the vet, everyone commented on his handsomeness. The vet called (which I am continually impressed by as she ALWAYS follows up) she said, " I didn't know you had a cat? "I know, I need a frequent flyer card - you are probably going to think I am munchausen by animal', I said. She laughed. $300.00 and a pile of projectile vomit later spoke to the vet on Tuesday (again, great f/u on her part) She said that his blood work was great - we are both surprised as he is 19 - he is just a little anemic. Hmmm, go figure. Somehow I have discovered the "fountain of youth" with animals.

Went for a walk on Tuesday night and ran into a dog named Max - great smile

365 Days of Gratitude day 13

I am grateful for glasses as without them I could not write these blogs or read them.  What an amazing invention.  From what I could find on my internet search, glasses were first invented in Italy about 1286 by the Dominican friar Giordano da Pisa.  Thank you.

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I am grateful for being!

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I am grateful for being able to watch my dog run around and frolic in the backyard.  She emits such a huge sense of energy, freedom and playfulness that just can't help but make you smile;);)

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I am grateful for being grateful :):):):):):):):)

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I am grateful for crisp, cool Sunday mornings. Lazily lounging in while sipping coffee and watching a movie.

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I am grateful I got to spend quality time with my BFF :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude day 7

Day 7! So far I am truly enjoying this venture.........I am finding that not just in the am that I write the blogs I think about what I am grateful for but also during the day.  It has thus far seemed to add some extra joy throughout the day.  Today I find I am grateful for the rain.  The rain, to me, has such a cleansing and detoxifying feeling.  It is like the world is getting a shower.  The post rain day we are filled with blue skies, puffy clouds, wind bustling through the trees and a view for miles.  There is a clean, crisp, purifying feel about the air.  Thank you.

365 Days of Gratitude day 6

I am grateful for running shoes. These shoes can take you on all sorts of adventures in any city or place in the world. They are comfortable and functional and after proper use (i.e. running/hiking/walking in them) give you a feeling of elation, exhilaration and inner peace (not to be confused with inner peas). PS., I am also grateful to Amazon for their ability to have them on my doorsteps in two days with free shipping with a Prime membership (don't get me started in Prime, it is awesome) :):):)

365 Days of Gratitude day 5

Today and everyday I am grateful for our dog. She has been such a fantastic addition to our lives. When she found us, it was love at first sight. She is fun, energetic, adorable and full of personality. Even if she does something bad, she does with her magical flare of cuteness. If I have a substandard day, all I have to do is hang out with her and it gets better.  I love her with every ounce and fiber in my body and am so thankful she was brought into my life :)

365 Days of Gratitude day 4

I am grateful for the right to vote.  I think sometimes we forget some of the freedoms and rights that we have in this country.  It was not without much struggle, striff and often peril and bloodshed that both previous and current generations have fought and fight to keep.  We must at the very least do our due diligence and make our voice known at the polls and honor the right we have been given!

365 Days of Gratitude day 3

Today I am grateful for the time change which gives us an extra hour.  I love the am hours when the hustle and bustle hasn't started yet.  There is a quiet calm in the breeze that rustles the wind chimes ever so slightly with the gentle sounds of coffee perculating in the background and the fountain cascading. I feel refreshed, clam and peaceful :)

365 Days of Gratitude day 2

Today I am grateful for technology.  It is so amazing how much information, knowledge and learning is right at our fingertips.  Our access to people, communication and outreach makes our possibilities endless ;)

365 Days of Gratitude day 1

The past couple of years have brought their challenges......certainly no worse than others have seen in fact far less I am sure, by comparison.  I am happy to report that the last year has been filled with such wonderful changes that I am truly grateful for.

I have found that one thing that I feel always seems to start the day off right is declaring at least one thing if not several that I am grateful for.

I have decided to start writing them down and sharing them:

Today I am grateful for my health and happiness - this, I could not have without the love and support of my truly wonderful family, friends, clients and  co-workers.  Thank you!